Zoning Officials

In a decision that would make Arnold Ziffel sniffle, Orange County zoning officials have ruled that residents can't keep pot-bellied pigs as pets.Arnold was the lovable, television-watching pet pig on the Green Acres TV series in the 1960s. But Orange County said there will be no such pet pigs in the county after several homeowners complained about neighbors keeping the porkers.Owning pigs, especially Vietnamese pot-bellied varieties, became a fad nationwide about three years ago. Owners say the intelligent pigs can be taught to do tricks and can even be house-trained.

In a devious effort to silence public debate, representatives of two developers have sunk to a new low in their desperate bid to inflate the value of land near the Wekiva River that's slated for public purchase. Developers Nancy Rossman and Bill Cole should be embarrassed. And when they meet Tuesday, Lake County commissioners should reject their latest tricks. Ms. Rossman and Mr. Cole want commissioners to postpone for another month their request to increase the development potential of their property.

Campbell City hog farmer Joseph White's zoning enforcement case was postponed Wednesday by an Osceola County advisory panel.The county Code Enforcement Board could fine White up to $250 a day for creating a public health nuisance on his 4-acre hog farm that is across U.S. Highway 17-92 from Whispering Pines, a large senior citizens trailerpark.White, who was there 20 years before the county zoning codes were created, said his property is protected under the state Right to Farm law.County zoning officials claim that the hog farm is in an industrial zone on a lot too small for hog pens.

TAVARES -- The county's Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday recommended approval of a joint-planning agreement between the county and Leesburg. The agreement is designed to ensure that unincorporated areas in the county that are adjacent to Leesburg city limits be developed in a way consistent with city and county standards. It requires that the city and county share information on any proposed developments and annexations in the "notification area," which stretches as far south as the intersection of Florida's Turnpike with U.S. Highway 27 and as far east as County Road 473. The Leesburg City Commission approved the deal in December, and county commissioners will vote on the agreement at the Jan. 20 meeting.

The ministry run by Tammy Faye Bakker is protesting a zoning decision that could limit the ministry's activities.Orange County zoning officials informed the ministry early this week that it can produce television or radio programs at a south Orange County warehouse but cannot hold church services without cameras rolling.''Our television program is a 'program of worship,' '' said a statement issued Thursday by Tammy Bakker and her ministry. ''I do not understand what difference it makes if we worship with cameras running or we worship without cameras.

Constance Jack was wrong to open a group home for four elderly women in a Sanford neighborhood.It's bad enough that she ignored a state law requiring a license, and even failed to get permission from the Seminole County zoning board.But what's more, her actions are a disservice to the idea of elderly people living together in group homes. This type of arrangement helps to keep out of expensive nursing homes those who can manage with just a little assistance.Florida has 1,300 such homes, serving 47,000 elderly people.

Curtis is popular with the kids and neighbors, but zoning officials say the black goat has got to go.A judge Friday supported zoning officials saying the goat can't stay in a residential neighborhood. Owner Sally Bruynell has to pay an $80 fine and faces more fines if Curtis stays.Neighbors have signed a petition supporting Curtis. Some said Friday they will back Bruynell when she asks county commissioners for special permission to let Curtis stay in the Palmwood Drive home, where he has lived for the past four years.

Tammy Faye Bakker, who wants to worship in an industrial park, will get help from the American Civil Liberties Union in a zoning dispute with Orange County officials.''The ACLU takes the position that churches can properly go into an industrial-zoned area unless there's some overriding public reason to deny it,'' said Jerry Bornstein, an Orlando lawyer who is acting as volunteer counsel for the ACLU in Bakker's case.Bakker held one church service at a warehouse in south Orange County in March before officials told her she was violating zoning rules.

Tammy Faye Bakker has passed the first hurdle toward returning to the airwaves from a south Orange County warehouse.Orange County zoning officials wrote to Bakker's ministry Tuesday, saying that the ministry's plans for a television-radio production studio are permitted at the site at 1900 Central Florida Parkway.Shirley Balmer, spokeswoman for the ministry, had no comment. She said Bakker expects to receive the letter from zoning officials today.Zoning officials emphasized that the industrial zone where the warehouse is located is appropriate for a television ministry but not a church.

Proposed restrictions on communications towers will be presented to the Volusia County Council today.An ordinance was drafted at council member Stan Rosevear's request because of concerns about proliferation of the towers. Residents throughout Central Florida have complained the towers are eyesores.The council placed a temporary ban on the towers in December to give zoning officials time to create regulations. Today, council members will vote to set public hearings on the proposed rules.''We feel like it's a middle-of-the-road kind of ordinance,'' said zoning director Mary Robinson.

DELAND -- Richard Knuebel has been laboring for almost two decades on a two-story paddlewheel boat reminiscent of those of the 1800s. He dreams of taking passengers on dinner cruises on the St. Johns River. Now, the vessel he calls the Beresford Lady is just about complete. First, Knuebel must cut through red tape and get Volusia County's permission to launch his prize from his property on the banks of Lake Beresford. The boat is moored at a area known by longtime residents as both Beresford Landing and Alexander's Landing.

John Moore isn't about to give up on history. The Thornton Park resident, who butted heads with the city of Orlando last month about placing a historic steeple on the roof of his planned, two-story Victorian-style home, is ready to try again. Moore has a new plan for displaying the 26-foot steeple that once topped the old chapel at the Orlando Naval Training Center. He wants to perch the steeple on a garage at the rear of his property, where it would not be visible from the street. This time, the structure supporting the steeple would be a miniature replica of the base chapel.

When it's time to write the story of Lake County, call it Para- dise Paved.Monday's column on the new convenience store replacing a stand of pine trees in Eustis hit a nerve with sprawl foes across Lake County.``This is the countryside,'' said Angela Hucke, who lives along County Road 561 south of Clermont, near the site of a proposed new strip development.``We moved out here to be out of the city. If somebody absolutely has to be able to buy things next door, then they should move back to town.

For three decades, Tarmac America Inc. has tapped the rich earth of south Lake County to produce concrete sand and other construction materials.With the once-plentiful source now running dry, the company is eager to till new terrain on its leased property. But the ambition to start new digging has neighbors in a tizzy and county officials saying no way.``They would like to see our operation shut down,'' said Jim Mason, general manager of the Center Sand Mine. ``It's mostly emotional issues.

Plans for a shopping center just outside Deltona are being scaled down in hopes of getting approval from Volusia County zoning officials who frowned upon the original proposal.A request for a zoning change that would allow the center at the corner of Doyle and Garfield roads was originally scheduled for consideration next week by the Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission.When property-owner Ralph Broberg found out the county staff was planning to advise against the rezoning, he decided to change the proposal and bring it to the commission next month.

Curtis is popular with the kids and neighbors, but zoning officials say the black goat has got to go.A judge Friday supported zoning officials saying the goat can't stay in a residential neighborhood. Owner Sally Bruynell has to pay an $80 fine and faces more fines if Curtis stays.Neighbors have signed a petition supporting Curtis. Some said Friday they will back Bruynell when she asks county commissioners for special permission to let Curtis stay in the Palmwood Drive home, where he has lived for the past four years.

A volunteer sea-bird rescue mission run by two Orange County residents for the past six years may be forced to close for violating zoning ordinances.Pat Fisher and Roberta Lawrence have kept sick and injured pelicans and sea gulls in an enclosure behind her home at 5632 Tomoka Drive in south Orange County for the last four years.However, recent complaints about odor led to an inspection by county zoning officials who said the non-profit group must apply for a variance.A hearing before zoning officials is scheduled for June 4, said Fisher, who estimates he has spent about $10,000 of his money to rescue about 850 birds in the past six years.

A seven-member committee is reviewing ways to beef up security for code enforcement officers and other county officials, including having seminars on recognizing volatile personality types and the possibility of issuing uniforms.The committee was created after the February shooting of Lake County code enforcement officer Vincent Scanlon, 32. Scanlon was killed while checking suspected zoning code violations at a Dona Vista business.Arthur Peschke, 58, who was charged with first-degree murder, has a history of run-ins with county zoning officials and warned officials earlier that he had a gun under his counter.

A proposed cemetery would be a grave disaster, city officials decided Wednesday night.The City Council refused to permit construction of Plantation Memorial Gardens, agreeing with zoning officials and residents who said the cemetery doesn't belong in their neighborhood.''We moved here three years ago for a quiet life. Not quite that quiet,'' resident Dianne Jess told the council.More than 100 people turned out Wednesday night to oppose the cemetery off Dirksen Drive. They cheered for critics of the proposal, booed the owners' lawyer and made countless coffin jokes.

Kevin Edmonson is going bananas - and it's not because of his roommates.Although having eight monkeys might make the house seem more akin to a zoo than a home, Edmonson said it's his prerogative whether to go ape or not.''Just because we have monkeys, we feel we ought to be able to raise and keep them wherever we want,'' Edmonson said.The state agrees.Edmonson is licensed by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to breed and keep monkeys.But Lake County zoning officials say that's not enough and are requiring him to obtain a conditional-use permit for his primate pals.